Economic development corporation plans to erect statue of Thomas Ball

ANNA SCHUMANNaschumann@hcnonline.com

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Wednesday, May 28, 2008

In an unanimous vote at a May 27 meeting, the Tomball Economic Development Corp. board of directors approved a project to build a statue of the city’s namesake Thomas Henry Ball in the historic depot plaza.

In an effort to develop the historic plaza, the board has approved plans to build the bronze statue to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Tomball’s establishment.

David Quinn, city councilman and secretary of the TEDC board, said Mayor Gretchen Fagan and the city council were in Fort Worth, Texas, for the Texas Municipal League Conference when they first saw the bronze statues done by sculpter Sandra Van Zandt.

Quinn said the council was impressed by the artist’s work and wanted to bring it to Tomball. He said he hopes the statue of Ball will be the first of many at the depot, which he would like to see developed into a community plaza and park.

Van Zandt said she is done with the design of the sculpture and now is waiting for approval to begin. The sculpture is to be life-size and is to present Ball sitting on a park bench looking over plans for the Houston ship channel, which he had a role in planning. The park bench will be personalized for the city as well.

Van Zandt has completed more than 25 monuments including what she believes to be her most famous, “The Spirit of Naval Aviation” at the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Fla.

Van Zandt is to present the design, based on photographs, to Mayor Fagan and City Manager Jan Belcher on June 4. Once the design is ready, she said, the process of completing the life-size sculpture and placing it takes approximately six months.

The city council recently purchased 12 lots of land surrounding the depot. When the houses are removed, Quinn hopes work can begin on the statue and plaza.

Assistant City Manager Mary Coker explained that the city already has a contract with Van Zandt, but what the corporation decided upon was whether or not to fund the project. Any project that the corporation approves must go before the council before the corporation can spend the money, Coker said.

Reinbeck, executive director of the development corporation, said she believes the statue and plaza will be a big step in improving the quality of life in Tomball.

Reinbeck said before the statue can be constructed, it must first be approved by the city council. After it is approved by the council, there must be a public hearing about it.

No action may be taken until 60 days following the public hearing in order to give the public time to respond.

The total cost of $52,000 to the sculpter is to be split evenly between the development corporation and the city.

Van Zandt said she is excited about the project.

“I hope the City of Tomball enjoys it and is able to be inspired by it as a piece of art and a piece of their history,” she said.